Posts Tagged ‘More Than Mobility’

Really interesting video from BBC Ideas (click photo below for video) on how to talk to people living with disabilities without being awkward. Let us know what you think?

The BBC’s Ellis Palmer, activist Tanni Grey-Thompson and YouTuber Lucy Edwards on how to talk about disability without being awkward.

Have you had similar issues or as an able bodied person are you uncomfortable on how to talk to someone with a disability without offending anyone? Then take a look at this video for some do’s and don’ts!

Recent interesting article published in THIIS highlighting that London public transport commutes are 49% longer for wheelchair users. Let us know if you have had similar issues or alternatively if you would like to buy a new transit or self propelled wheelchair do let us know:

A new travel experiment has highlighted how difficult using London’s public transport system is for people with mobility needs, suggesting wheelchair users’ commutes in England’s capital take 49 percent longer than that of an able-bodied person.

The ‘Going the Extra Mile’ experiment pitted five wheelchair users against five able-bodied commuters, tasked with travel five popular commuter journeys in London, with the commuters starting their journey from the same point at the same time and finishing at the same destination.

Carried out by law firm Bolt Burdon Kemp, the experiment aimed to raise awareness of accessibility issues on public transport by pointing out the difficulties facing wheelchair users in Europe’s busiest commuter city, with up to five million passengers travelling London’s eleven Underground lines every day.

The results from the study revealed that out of London’s 270 stations, only 77 were fully accessible- less than 30 percent – for wheelchair users, with London’s transport options, often limited for people with disabilities, leading to substantially longer travel times for wheelchair users.

The five commuter journeys carried out during the course of this experiment took wheelchair users a combined total of three hours and five minutes to complete – 49 percent longer than their able-bodied counterparts.

In particular, the ‘Going the Extra Mile’ experiment exposed the significant difference in time for popular routes in London because of lack of access to London’s transport network, with the wheelchair users’ often required to take bus routes instead of the Underground.

A nine-minute commute from Liverpool Street to Kings Cross took a wheelchair users 32 minutes because the only option was to take a single bus route between the two central stations due to a lack of accessibility in the Underground.

In addition, Wembley Park to Westminster, another popular commute route, took 83 percent longer than what the ‘step-free access’ option on the TFL journey planner estimated for wheelchair users.

Following the experiment, the wheelchair users noted that official apps or planners cater to their individual needs, flagging the difficulty of planning their public transport journey as a recurrent problem.

For the participants, cross-checking several different apps seems to be the norm, although they noted that these unreliable or inaccurate and, ultimately, they rely on their own experience.

According to participants, the apps also do not distinguish between different accessibility needs and mobility devices, leading to route suggestions that can be accessible to some but not to others.

For the Westminster bound journey, the TFL journey planner suggested a change at Finchley Road to use the Jubilee line, in a similar manner to the able-bodied passenger. In reality, staff at the starting point of the journey advised this was not possible, as the gap there would be far too large for an electric wheelchair.

It transpired that the route recommended by the journey planner would have only worked for a manual wheelchair user, potentially leaving any electronic wheelchair users stranded had they taken the recommended route.

Jennifer, who tested the Wembley Park to Westminster route, said she avoids public transport altogether in her daily life: “Today was the first time I’d used public transport since [getting injured]. I probably won’t use it again.”

As well as a lack of access to London’s Underground stations and lack of available route planning information for disabled travellers, the study also emphasised the lack of staff training to respond to passengers with disabilities.

According to one participant, they were left waiting on a bus arriving at King’s Cross station, as the driver closed the doors before she could exit using the ramp. She disclosed some bus drivers have difficulty activating the ramp, stating that sometimes the driver has even asked her for guidance on how to activate it.

On Jennifer’s Westminster bound journey, she arrived at a station with no staff present to assist with setting up a ramp to help disembark despite assurance from the information point that this had been arranged for her. This resulted in Jennifer relying on help from a stranger to exit and navigate the station.

The law firm says the study brings to attention that London and other cities’ public transportation is not meeting the needs of disabled people and that there is much more that can be done to make public transport more accessible.

One our of electric wheelchair/powerchair manufacturer’s (Pride Mobility) put together this useful article on what to do if you get your powerchair wet. Particular useful at the moment with the unpredictable weather and April showers so we wanted to share this with you below. If you do have any issues or need some advice please do call us on 0800 046 3949.

“In the real world, water is a fact of life. Weather is unpredictable and cannot be controlled. You can be out with your powerchair and suddenly, a rain or snow shower hits! Plus, even after a storm is over, there may be large puddles or piles of snow in the roads or on the pavement . It’s important to understand how water affects electric wheelchairs. By taking action following contact with water, you can preserve the life and performance of your power wheelchair.

When faced with sudden inclement weather, there are a few things you can do. Depending on the severity and heaviness of the rain or snow, we recommend finding shelter until the storm passes. Try to avoid large puddles. Your powerchair is equipped with electronics, and direct or prolonged exposure to water or dampness may cause a motorized wheelchair to malfunction electronically and mechanically. Water can cause the electrical components to corrode and the frame of your electric wheelchair to rust.

If your power wheelchair encounters water:

Thoroughly dry your powerchair with a towel as soon as possible; Wipe down all surfaces of the chair

Allow your powerchair to sit in a warm, dry place for 12 hours to allow unseen water to evaporate

Check the operation of the joystick and the brakes before using your electric wheelchair again

If you find any inconsistencies, take your power wheelchair to your provider

You should periodically examine your motorized wheelchair for signs of corrosion caused by water exposure, bodily fluid exposure, or incontinence. Any damaged components should be replaced or treated immediately, so contact your authorized provider for service.

There are some other things you can do to further protect your electric wheelchair. Some consumers carry plastic bags with them. When a sudden shower hits, they cover their controller or joystick with the plastic bag to protect it from the rain or snow. Also, it’s a good idea to check the weather before you leave the house. If the forecast is calling for wet weather, consider changing your plans or staying home.

By understanding the effects of moisture and taking steps to reduce exposure, you ensure that your power chair remains in peak condition for optimal performance.”

The ‘Retail Champions’ category commends the work some of the stars of the sector have done over the past 12 months to expand the footprint of their own companies and help their businesses to adapt in an ever-changing market.

The mobility retail market is facing unprecedented challenges and it takes someone special and forward-thinking to take a leap and evolve and execute untested ideas.

This is particularly difficult when costs are substantial, margins are thin and the stakes are high. But these individuals have truly championed best practice in retail and have been exemplary in their work. Their colleagues will testify that their work has certainly not gone unnoticed.

Marcy Lashbrook, Director, More Than Mobility

Marcy Lashbrook has run Plymouth’s More Than Mobility store for more than a decade and is considered to be a strong asset not only for residents in Devon and Cornwall, but also the industry itself. She will frequently go out of her way to offer fantastic customer service, working late nights and visiting customers at weekends.

Customers often sing Marcy’s praises and many now come into store just to see her. More recently, Marcy has been bucking the trend of many struggling independent mobility dealers by consistently beating monthly store sales targets with ease while managing a team of four staff.

Importantly, Marcy has built strong and lasting relationships with key suppliers, which has helped More Than Mobility to weather the tough headwinds independent dealers are currently up against. Last month she made the tough decision to close an underperforming store so the business can focus on its more profitable sites.

But it is decision making like this which is essential to overall business success. Marcy’s knowledge, experience and guidance has paid dividends in the last year, which has proved one of the most challenging 12 months independent retailers across the board can remember. Its staff agree that More Than Mobility could not hope for a better figurehead to lead it into the next year.

Its been a busy few weeks measuring up and installing customers with new stair lifts in their homes in order to keep customers with their independence and access to their whole home.Take back access to all of your home and never struggle with stairs again!

Don’t forget we offer a free no obligation quote for both straight and curved stair lifts with quick installation. Call us on 0800 046 3949 to book a quote in your home. New straight stair lifts start from £1,250.

Two recent examples are Darren (below) who is volunteering in our store to gain experience for future jobs plus last week a lovely girl from Bishop Storford School joined us for a day for the “Bring Your Child To Work Day”.

Unfortunately due to to rising rent and rate costs we have taken the difficult decision to close our Sidmouth mobility store when the current lease expires and we will therefore be closing down as of Friday 29th March 2019. Customers in Devon and Cornwall can continue to visit our Plymouth store and existing customers with any warranty issues will be handled via our Plymouth store.

Our Northampton and Plymouth stores as well as the having the ability to buyonline continues as before and we welcome all customers.

In the meantime please pop into the Sidmouth store and pick up a bargain as we have some items on CLOSING DOWN SALE up to 25% OFF!